Fire-alarm signaling device.



F. G. GRUTOHFIELD. FIRE ALARM SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907.

Snoznkoz witnesses I f7 Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

FREDERICK C. ORUTGHFIELD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Finn-ALARM: sxeuanzne Davies.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatente'd Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed. May 3, 1907. Serial No. 371,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. CRUTOH- FIELD, a citizen" of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Alarm Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved fire alarm signaling device for use in a building or other structure to give an alarm in case of fire by closing an electric circuit and for subsequently reopening the electric circuit after the alarm has been sounded, and it consists in the construction, combination, and ar-. rangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view' of an electric fire alarm signaling device-embodying my invention with the cover of the casing removed and the holder of the circuit closlng spring shown in cross section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved fire alarm signaling device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same, taken on the plane indicated by the line ai s of Fig. 1, and showing the circuit closing and opening springs in their normal positions, the circuit closer being shown open and the circuit closing spring being shown in its normal restrained position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the circuit closed by the circuit closing spring, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 6 b of Fig. 1,-shoWi11g the releasing spring in full lines inits normal restrainedposition' and in dotted lines in released position to release the circuit closing'spring from the circuit closer.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown the fire alarm signaling device is inclosed in a box or casing 1, which has a cover 2 fitted on one end thereof. In'the bottom of said box or casing is a base .3 of non-conducting material. The said base is rovided with an opening 4, through which the wires 5 ofan electric circuit, in-- cluding means for sounding a fire alarm, are passed, and the said wires are respec t'ively attached to electrodes 67, which constitute a circuit closer. The electrode 7 is here shown as a spring late fastened at one end and free at the ot er end and which normally springs from the electrode 6 and is p in open position. with respect thereto so that the circuit is normally open.

In connection with the circuit closer I employ a circuit closing sprin 8, which is here shown as having a coi ed portion 9, an end 10, which extends into and is secured to the base, and an arm 11, which has an off-set portion 20 adapted to engage the electrode 7, when said spring is released, and

. or circuit closing spring restraining device is here shown as an eye 12 to engage the arm 11 and solder 13, which is readily fusible, and which secures the said eye or holder to the cover 2. I

Ialso employ a circuit opening spring,.

from the circuit closer to reopen the circuit 7 and cause the alarm to cease-to sound, The said releasing spring is here shown at 14 provided with a coiled portion 15, a securing end 16' extending into the base, and an arm- 17, which passes under the arm of the circuit closing spring and isdisposed at substantially right angles with reference thereto. The-said arni 17 of the releasing. spring 14: extends to one side of the'boX or casing and is held normally in inoperative position on or near the base 3 by means of a holderlfr, which may be a mass of solder or other suitable fusible material united to the side of the box or casing and forming a shoulder which bears on said spring arm. This releasing spring or circuit opening rin is. stron er than the circuit closin spring. The arms of both of said springs are here shownas passing through a com-- mon guide element 19. v

The operation of the invention is as follows: The circuit closing spring 8 is normally held in restrained position out of contact with the spring element 7 of the circuit closer by the holder 12. The circuit opening spring 14. is normally held in its restrained position out of contact and engagement with. the spring 8 by the fusible holder 18. The said fusible holder is more refractory and less readily fusible than the holder element 13 of the circuit closing spring. In the event of a fire at or near the r naintained, the holder element 13 of the releasing sprln 8 will be first fused, whereupon the sai releasing spring will be released and will engage the spring elem nt 7 of the circuit closer and close said spring element against the element 6 of the circuit.

closer and thereby close the electric circuit and sound the alarm. The oircuit closer will continue .to be closed by the. action of the spring 8 until the holder 18 of the circuit openlng spring 14 has become fused, whereupon the said circuitopening spring will be released and being stronger than the circuit closing spring and its arm being adapted to move opposite the direction in which the arm previously moved, spring w1ll engagethearm of the circuit closing spring' and will return said circuit closing spring to its initial position and hence will ermit the spring element 7 of the circuit 0 oser to move from the element 6 and thereupon open the circuit and cause the signaling instrument to cease-to operate.

It will be understood that my improved fire alarm signaling device may be readily produced at a very slight expense, that the same cannot get out of order under ordinary conditions, and that the same will be en tirely effective to sound an alarm in the event of a fire.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new is 1. In alarm apparatus of the class described, in combination with a circult closer, aspring to operate the same, fusible means to normally'hold said circuit closing spring in inoperative position, and means including a fuslble element to'return said'spring to inoperative position after the first named fuslble means has been fused.

2. In alarm apparatus of the class described, in combination with an electric circuit closer, springs of unequal strength, one to operate the cn'cuit closer and the other ace where my improved alarm device is- -spring, a circuit opening of the circuit closing spring said ,clrcuit opening and permit retraction of said stronger than the first to return the first to inoperative position, and fusible means for eachof said springs to normally hold the same in inoperative position, the fusible holding means of the stronger spring being more refractory than that of the circuit closer operating spring.

3. In alarm apparatus of the class described, the combination of a circuit closing spring, and fusible holding means for each of .said springs, that of the circuit openin spring being more refractory-than that or-the circuit closing spring.

4. In alarm apparatus of the class described,- a casing having a cover, a circuit closer in such casing, a circuit closer operating spring connected to the ,cover by fusible means and by'such fusible means held in restrained position, such spring and fusible means coacting to hold such cover on such casing, and a countervailing spring .to move the circuit closer operating spring to released and restrained position, and fusible means more refractory than that which restrains the circuit-closer operating spring, normally holding such countervailing spring in restrained position.

5 In an alarm apparatus of the class d scribed, an electric circuit, a closer therefor including a movable member, a temperature controlled device normally inactlve and adapted upon a prescribed rise in temperature to engage and move said member to circuit closed position, and a temperature controlled device normally inoperative'and adapted a higher rise in temperature to engage and retract said circuit closing device her to restore condition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. H FREDERICK CLIFFORD CRUTCHFIELD. Witnesses:

M. L. DAVIS, R. L. ALLRED.

the circuit to initial, normal movable mem-' 

